Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-20

, what was lt!' inquired Luke anu
Curley together.
Some one stirred" Mel answered.
"Hould onyr whispered Luke with more
than ordinary righteousness. "Lish-
TEMP
With beating hearts the boys listened.
In a moment the saving was resumd. 1t
was that sort Of saving that makes a hear
er's blood creep, or his teeth crate upon
one another.
Gee, what q dull saw" whispered
Curley.
HE ought to grease it," said Me- almost
inaudibly. "Tain't Eddie Burnham's
doin' that"
''Shm whispered Luke, putting one
hand on Mel's mouth. "It's robbers"
Robbers echoed Curley, in another
whisper, and too terrified to move
Robbers added Mel. no less fright
ened.
He's sawin' the sink pipe" said Luke,
as his own head and the head Of his COM
panion were poked into the window open
ing, as their eyes peered into the gloomy,
cayernous cellar.
20, Gee murmured Curley, so afraid
that he hesitated TO mouer
20, if we kud only ketch the robber ~
was Luke's subdued exclamation. Eddie
Burnham tonld me the other day that
scome wan shteals the sink pipe every
tonne a new wan is got"
Yes, sad to relate some evildOer had in
vaded ~law-abiding Potatoville. His advent
was marked by the sudden disappearance
of a number of pure white articles OF bed
clothing and underwear from Mrs. Cas-
sidy's clothes line. Next q saw and axe dis
appeared from Casey's back yard. Then
Dan Morrissey suffered the loss of 3 wheel
barrow, and Burnham's sink pipe disap-
peared about the same time. Suspicion
finally fastened upon a recent acquisition
to Potatoville society, for there was not an
old settle: in Potatoville, or one who had
lived there fer a year, whose honesty was
not irreproachable. Suspicion, however,
was one thing, and proof was another. So
Mrs. Cassidy had to buy new clothing.
Casey purchased n new saw AID a new axe,
and Morrisy got a secondhand wheelhar-
row, while Michael Burnham was obliged
10 procure a fresh sink-pipe. This pipe,
by the way, was a long tube, extending
from the kitchen through the cellar aud
for some distance into the back yard. A
plumber had put it in place only three
days before the one on the night OF which
Luke and his companions were listening TO
the sounds in the cellar.
so, if We only had guns murmuTed
Mel, and the boys listened Tor a repetition
of the saving sounds or some other sign
that might explain the cellar mystery.
lies wake up the Burnhams, y suggested
Curley.
'Shure, thin, the robber I'D get away
whispered Luke. Keep sthill! I'll
Hear that whispered Curlcy' rs the
sound of footsteps or the coal in the cellar
fell upon their ears.
Hes coomln'," said Luke. LUX ut
him! We'd better room"
Sure enough the dim outline of n man
emerging from the further corner Of the
cellar was disceruible, and the discovery
struck new terror into the hearts OF the
gang. The lads sprang back from the
window aud started toward the gate. Be
fore they reached the latter il was flung
open, and the tall figure of athletic Jack
Burnham Ioomed up before the boys.
Jack had been long ont of his teens and
HIS liult ~ Il .NltStItl dlu boNNl hiu kbI'
through P%0tatOyillc, Snipe Island and
Babylon. This night he had been TO a
theatre in Boston and had only a few mo-
meuts before he entered the gate, alighted
from the late train. A. first glance he re-
c~ognized the gang and Immediately sus-
pected that the lads were engaging in some
new mischief.
'"They be a r0bber in the cellar ~ eK-
4 claimed Luke as soon as he recovered from
his surprise at meeting Jack.
, ooh, no, SIR" put in Mel. 1--WE seed
him"
!, yes" said Curly, ''he's comm out.
He's been sawin' the sink pip"
The words "sink pipe convinced Jack,
and. lighting Il match, he proceeded to the
cellar window and looked in.
IL don't see anybody, " he exclaimed, in
a disappointed manner.
"Oh, he's there" reiterated Luke. 1--WE
seed him"
Just then q window in the house va
raised and the voice of Michael Burnhanl
was heard, saying:
who's there? What's the matter?'
Its Jack. They say there's some
body in the cellar trying TO steal the sinR
pipe" replied Jack.
The words "sink pipe" stirred Michael,
blood as it had Jacks. "Ill 90 into thu
cellar with a lamp" he shouted, shutting
f the window with emphasis.
Bring a COON !" shouted Luke, but TOO
: late for Burnham to hear.
? Jack and the gang soon heard Michae
2 opening the sitting-rOom door that led by
? stairway into the further cellar. JacS
leaned through tine window and watched
! He heard his father descending the stair
way. Then he saw the lamplight in tn,
further cellar as il streamed through tn,
cracked partition. Suddenly n strong hant
grasped him by the coat collar, and as i
| dragged him into the cellar another hanC
dealt him a stunning blow with a stick o
, wood. The lads heard his grOan. The.
. also heard Michael opening the door tina
separated the two cellars. At the top o
their voices the three yelled:
% 1.-THE robbers killed jack
As the light from Michael's Lamp fashet
through the cellar, the burly form OF
bearded man sprang toward the cellar win
dow. The TObber was about TO escape
;, Michal quickly placed the lamp upon
. | DdTItl. Rltb'tu IL IA Oh NbOlP'hl
: block and started after the brutal intruder
. The ~latter's hands clutched the sill OF tn
window, which was rather high.
stop him! stop him" yelled Michael
= Don't let him go! Hold him?'
Keep of! keep off, yelled the robbie
TO the lads, who now for the first time go
: a good view OF his repulsive face.
stop him" yelled Michael who wa
r now with uplilted axe, approaching tn
. burglar. The latter wanted only hal
I a minute. Michael feared lest the in
: truder might elude him. Luke did no
wait for another commando Selling
{ heavy stone he threw it straight at thu
| burglars bead. Mel did similarly with
t br ok and Curly, with blanched face, hnrl
= ed an old iron shoemaker's file at th'
: emerging rufian. The latter drew in hi,
e head, slipped and fell back into the cellar
|. As Barnham raised the axe 10 strike b.
e saw that the intruded was slammed and
therefore ne forbore to deal him a blow.
All Potatoville was nov up in arms and
=. ...h.rad in and arnund Rurnham'e hnuSe